Armed man barricaded in DTLA building taken into custody after hours-long standoff

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- An armed suspect surrendered to police after an hours-long standoff that caused several road closures in downtown Los Angeles Monday afternoon.

Los Angeles police said they responded to the 800 block of Santee Street for a call of shots fired around noon. Officials said the armed suspect was on the rooftop at one point, but later reentered the building and barricaded himself inside.

"A vehicle that was driving in the area was shot at one time. Officers received an image of the possible suspect and they responded to the area within this vicinity...they determined the suspect is in that building. Currently, we have our SWAT officers conducting a floor-by-floor investigation," Detective Meghan Aguilar said.

Police said the suspect called around 4 p.m. to give himself up and had been hiding in an apartment of an acquaintance in the building. When he came out, he appeared to have changed clothes.

Authorities monitored the suspect on internal security cameras. Residents in the building were urged to keep their doors locked and stay inside while the situation was going on.

Those who witnessed the shooting said it was a chaotic scene.

"At 12 o'clock I heard the shotgun. I heard it - only one. Then I thought something happened, then I came out and I saw the black car (and someone) running away," one witness said.

Authorities said it was unclear if anyone was inside the car that was hit. Police have not reported that there is a victim. It was also unclear why the suspect opened fire on the vehicle.

Heavily armored vehicles and officers in tactical gear responded to the scene. Authorities closed streets in the area due as a precaution.

The suspect was taken into custody after the hours-long standoff in the building.